Human Resources Director

City of Southfield Human Resources; Southfield (MI); On-site; USD 123,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement Savings Account

Tuition Reimbursement

Life Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

FMLA

Job summary

The City of Southfield seeks a seasoned Human Resources Director to lead a centralized HR department serving a diverse municipal workforce and public service delivery. The role reports to the City Administrator and collaborates with the City Council on workforce priorities.

The successful candidate will drive recruitment, compensation, policy development, and legal compliance, while guiding training, succession planning, and retirement administration within a fiscally sustainable framework.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Labor Relations, or a closely related field; master's degree and/or certification preferred.
• Seven years of recent experience as a HR director or senior manager in a government organization of similar size and scope.
• Knowledge of public-sector employment laws and demonstrated leadership, problem-solving, analytical, organizational, presentation, communication, and technology skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee labor and employee relations, collective bargaining involving nine bargaining units, recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits, civil service support, policy development and legal compliance, training and organizational development, and retirement administration.
• Lead a centralized, full-service HR department supporting a diverse municipal workforce and public service delivery.
• Partner with the City Administrator and City Council to advance workforce priorities and organizational goals.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Organizational skills

Technology skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Public Administration/Business/Labor Relations

Master's degree or professional HR certification preferred

Job description

Southfield, Michigan -- Human Resources Director

Southfield, MI (pop. approximately 77,000) - Located immediately north of Detroit, Southfield is one of Oakland County's largest suburbs and a major regional business center. The City's daytime population approaches 175,000, reflecting its concentration of major employers, international companies, and professional services.

The Human Resources Director is appointed by and reports to the City Administrator, subject to confirmation by the City Council, and serves as a member of the City's Core Management Team. The Director leads a centralized, full-service HR Department supporting a diverse municipal workforce and the delivery of high-quality public services. The next Director will ensure the City is focused on recruiting and retaining a qualified, motivated, trained, and productive workforce, aligned with the policy goals of the City of Southfield, while maintaining fiscal sustainability in compensation and benefits.

The City has approximately 600 full-time-equivalent employees (FTEs), including 450 full-time staff and 150 FTE part‑time, contract, and seasonal. In addition, the city administers benefits for approximately 700 retirees. The Human Resources Director oversees labor and employee relations, collective bargaining involving nine bargaining units, recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits, civil service support, policy development and legal compliance, training and organizational development, and retirement administration. The Director directly manages a team of approximately 10 employees including staff dedicated to recruitment, employee benefits, training and development, health and safety, and retiree administration.

Key Opportunities

• Lead human resources for a workforce that reflects the diverse, dynamic community it serves.


• Build on a strong foundation in recruitment, retention, and compensation work.


• Shape the future of the HR Department through organizational review and team development.


• Foster internal talent, succession planning, and pride in City employment across the organization.


• Partner closely with the City Administrator and City Council to advance workforce priorities and organizational goals.

Job Requirements - As Determined By the City Of Southfield

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Public Administration, Business Administration, Labor Relations, or a closely related field. A master's degree and/or professional human resources certification is preferred.


• Seven years of recent experience as a human resources director or senior manager in a government organization of similar size and scope. Direct experience in the areas of ongoing employee/labor relations, labor contract negotiations, recruitment and selection, and compensation and benefits.


• Considerable knowledge of the laws affecting public-sector employment and demonstrated leadership, problem‑solving, analytical, organizational, presentation, communication, and technology skills.

Supplemental Information

Wage range of $122,967.85 to $184,524.44, with a comprehensive benefits package. Placement of the successful candidate within the wage range will be based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications. This is an unclassified, at‑will position in the Management Group. Regular attendance at evening meetings is required. Applicants will be subject to a thorough background investigation.

Overview

City of Southfield Employee Benefits Summary

Mandatory Benefits: Medical, Dental and Vision Elections, or Opt Out

Supplemental Benefits: Term Life, Aflac, Met Law, Retirement Savings Account, Tuition Reimbursement, EAP, FMLA, Flexible Spending Account, Residency Bonus

Blended Pension Plan Employees

• Defined Benefit SERS


• 1.5% Multiplier for all years of service


• 3 Years Final Average Compensation Upon Retirement


• 10 Years Vesting


• 5% Employee Contribution

Defined Contribution 401a MissionSquare

• 3% 401 a City Contribution


• 3% 401 a Employee Contribution (minimum)


• 5 Year Vesting Schedule

Retirement Health Savings

• Effective July 1, 2020 Tier III and IV employees shall contribute 2% of pensionable wages and the City will contribute $100 per month.


• 5 years of years of service: 50% vested


• 6 years of service: 75% vested


• 7 years of service: 100% vested


• Participation in the RHS begins on the first day of employment and end on the day of separation.

Life Insurance MetLife

• Benefits: The city provides term life insurance benefits with accidental death and dismemberment for qualified employees as soon as possible, through the proper insurance carrier in accordance with the following schedule:


• AFSCME 329: 0-30 months employment $30,000 life and ADD, after 30 months of employment $50,000 term life, accidental death and dismemberment coverage.


• ACS TPOAM PST AFSCME 3636: $50,000 Term life and $50,000 ADD Insurance

Medical Elections

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (2025)


• Community Blue PPO 10


• Community Blue PPO 12


• Community Blue PPO 15

HAP HMO

Dental - Blue Cross Blue Shield

Vision - Blue Cross Blue Shield

Health insurance 1st day of the next month of hire date. Employee has 30 Days to select benefits, otherwise will wait until open enrollment.

COBRA coverage through TASC – in the event of separation– you are entitled to continuation medical coverage up to 18 months.

Retirement Savings Account

• Supplemental


• MissionSquare 457b


• or T. Rowe Price 457b


• Retirement savings account with no employer contribution. Funds, added to a 457 can be pre‑tax or post‑tax.


• Pre Tax funds lower taxable income in bi‑weekly paycheck; however, taxes may have to be paid upon the distribution of funds in retirement.


• Post‑tax deferrals are taken from already taxed funds in your paycheck, which means that little to no taxes will be taken upon distribution in retirement. Loans are available.

Supplemental

• Tuition Reimbursement

Residency Bonus

• Annual residency bonus of 1.5% of annual salary by Jan 1st with proof of residency. Elected officials and contractual employees ineligible.

Supplemental

• MetLife Voluntary Term Life and ADD

AFLAC

• Short term disability, cancer, accident and hospitalization insurance. Dennis Patton [e-mail].

Supplemental

• EAP Ulliance

EAP Ulliance

• Employee Assistance Program through Ulliance- six free counseling sessions, legal, finance and life coaching programs. Supervisors are not notified if employee uses services.

FMLA

• Family Medical Leave Act worked up to 1250 hours or one year. Can take off time to care for a medical emergency for themselves or immediate family members for up to 12 weeks unpaid. Absences approved by BASIC or FMLA vendor.

Supplemental

• FSA & Dependent Care

FSA & Dependent Care

• Flexible Spending Accounts and Dependent care through TASC are pre‑tax funds that are used to cover certain out‑of‑pocket medical expenses and childcare costs. A total dollar amount is elected, and a debit card is sent to you to pay for incurred expenses.


• Pre‑tax funds are deducted bi‑weekly to cover the cost of the total amount you have elected. There is an annual election limit of $3,300 for 2025.

Union Contracts | City of Southfield